The Odessa College softball team is starting its 2023 season in the exact spot it ended the 2022 campaign.
After finishing last season third at the NJCAA Division I National Championship tournament, the Lady Wranglers found themselves in the No. 3 spot when the first poll of this season was released.
Just numbers to Odessa College head coach Jeff Jackson.
He understands that the rankings mean his club is noticed around the country for its success.
That isn’t going to earn victories, however, between the foul lines.
Jackson and the Lady Wranglers get their season started Friday at the “Battle on the Bosque” in Waco, a six-team tournament with all participants ranked in the Top 20 in the nation, including four in the Top 10.
“We are going to tested right away,” Jackson said. “Grayson is very good and we have them Friday to open the tournament.
“McLennan’s No. 2 and Butler is No. 7. But I’m excited to finally get the season started.”
The Lady Wranglers will face Grayson College (No. 8) and San Jacinto College-South (20th) on Friday, McLennan and Grayson against on Saturday and then finish with Chipola College (14) and Butler Community College (Kan.) on Sunday.
One of the challenges facing Odessa College is replacing 42 victories in the circle from a season ago.
Aydenne Brown (25-5, 1.44 earned run average, 262 strikeouts) and Fadwa Ben karim (17-2, 2.35 ERA) both have moved to the next level.
The Lady Wranglers will look to an unexpected addition in right-hander Emily Brouse, who transferred into the program after playing at Iowa Western College last season.
She was one of the dominant pitchers in the nation before suffering a knee injury.
A coaching change prompted the move and Brouse pulled teammate Camryn Milley with her to the Permian Basin.
Add in transfers Maya Mongelli, a pitcher/catcher who was at Lamar University last season, and outfielder Ariel Gomez (Cal State Northridge) and that creates a new dynamic for Odessa College as Jackson looks to integrate the newcomers into the existing squad.
A transition, he added, that has been helped along by the players themselves.
There have been some bumps.
“We have experience coming back,” he said. “Our entire infield and outfield all got significant time last year and contributed for us.
“And we needed to get them out of some bad habits and they’ve worked hard.”
One of the benefits of the Lady Wranglers’ success last season was the fall schedule that Jackson was able to put together to watch his team grow.
A slate that included games against the University of New Mexico, along with the University of Texas.
“We’re always going take those games,” Jackson said. “We go there and get beat, but it’s great experience.
“It’s an honor to be invited, because we aren’t calling them to play. So it’s nice for Odessa College to be recognized.”
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
2023 Odessa College Softball
Roster
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Year |
|
1 |
Ariel Gomez |
OF |
Soph. |
|
2 |
Presley Main |
SS |
Fr. |
|
3 |
Kaya Lee |
OF |
Soph. |
|
5 |
Ari Ybarra |
SS |
Soph. |
|
6 |
Kawehi Ili |
SS |
Soph. |
|
7 |
Alana Duran |
Util |
Fr. |
|
9 |
Avery Truss |
RHP |
Fr. |
|
11 |
Reagan Stange |
OF |
Soph. |
|
12 |
Maya Mongelli |
RHP/C |
Soph. |
|
13 |
Mallory Pampell |
SS |
Fr. |
|
14 |
Rayna Cruickshanks |
RHP |
Soph. |
|
15 |
Bradi Hill |
C |
Fr. |
|
16 |
Brooke Nauman |
OF |
Soph. |
|
17 |
Kendal Rushing |
OF |
Fr. |
|
18 |
Peyton Archer |
3B |
Fr. |
|
19 |
Emily Brouse |
RHP |
Soph. |
|
21 |
Camryn Milley |
1B |
Soph. |
|
22 |
Clarisa Zapata |
3B/2B |
Soph. |
|
23 |
Mia Perez |
RHP |
Fr. |
|
26 |
Michaella Baker |
1B |
Soph. |
|
28 |
Morgan Dutton |
C |
Soph. |
Head coach: Jeff Jackson
Assistant coach: Melanie Jaegers
Schedule
|
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Site |
|
1/27 |
Grayson College* |
4:30 p.m. |
Waco |
|
1/27 |
San Jacinto College-South* |
7 p.m. |
Waco |
|
1/28 |
McLennan Comm. College* |
4:30 p.m. |
Waco |
|
1/29 |
Chipola College* |
9 a.m. |
Waco |
|
1/29 |
Butler Community College* |
11:30 a.m. |
Waco |
|
2/3 |
Luna Comm. College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
2/4 |
Cisco College |
11 a.m. |
Cisco |
|
2/4 |
Navarro College |
1 p.m. |
Cisco |
|
2/10 |
Otero College-x |
3 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
2/11 |
Barton Comm. College-x |
11 a.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
2/11 |
North Central Texas College-x |
3 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
2/17 |
McCook Community College-y |
3 p.m. |
Brownwood |
|
2/17 |
Navarro College-y |
5:30 p.m. |
Brownwood |
|
2/18 |
Western Okla. State College-y |
11:15 a.m. |
Brownwood |
|
2/18 |
Temple College-y |
1:30 p.m. |
Brownwood |
|
2/19 |
Western Nebraska C.C. (DH) |
11 a.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
2/24 |
Tyler JC (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Tyler |
|
2/25 |
Weatherford College-z |
11 a.m. |
Tyler |
|
2/25 |
Galveston College-z |
3 p.m. |
Tyler |
|
3/15 |
McMurry Uni. JV (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Abilene |
|
3/16 |
Ranger College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
3/24 |
Western Texas College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Snyder |
|
3/25 |
Western Texas College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
3/31 |
Clarendon College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Clarendon |
|
4/1 |
Clarendon College (DH) |
Noon |
Clarendon |
|
4/7 |
Midland College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
4/8 |
Midland College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Midland |
|
4/14 |
Howard College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
4/15 |
Howard College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Big Spring |
|
4/28 |
El Paso CC (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
4/29 |
El Paso CC (DH) |
Noon |
Wrangler Field |
|
5/5 |
Frank Phillips College (DH) |
1 p.m. |
Wrangler Field |
|
5/6 |
Frank Phillips College (DH) |
Noon |
Wrangler Field |
|
5/12 |
Region 5 West Tournament |
TBD |
Lubbock |
|
5/13 |
Region 5 West Tournament |
TBD |
Lubbock |
|
5/14 |
Region 5 West Tournament |
TBD |
Lubbock |
*-Battle on the Bosque Tournament
x-Permian Basin Invitational
y-Cisco College Invite
z-TJC Round Robin
